Process for marking paper and apparatus therefor.



H. BROWN.

PROCESS FOR MARKING PAPER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILE D JUNE 18, 1913.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

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H. BROWN.

PROCESS FOR MARKING PAPER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

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H. BROWN.

PROCESS FoR MARKING PAPER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1913.

1 ,26 1,902, Patented Apr; 9, 1918.

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H. BROWN- PROCESS FOR MARKING PAPER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1913.

1,261,902 Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

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HOWARD BROWN, 0]? SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS FOR MARKING PAPER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, HOWARD BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, county of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for Marking Paper andApparatus Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of marking paper with identifying characters, figures or illustrations to indicate the origin of the paper, its quality or the use to whlch it is to be put and more particularly for putting on the paper, during the process of manufacture, and in place of a watermark, a mark of very clear out outlines, which shall be sharp in detail and if desired, intricate in detail, this mark being suitable in a commercial way in place of a water mark and being particularly adapted to set forth in the paper itself, illustrations and advertising matter composed to serve the advantages of the ultimate user of the paper.

To attain these objects, and others of a similar character, which are made clear by the disclosures hereinafter made, the method contemplates the use of a hard and inelastic plate, such as an electrotype or stereotype, this plate being arc-shaped for rotation with a cylinder and the cylinder being positioned to rotate at a definite speed with respect to a strip of paper passed in forcible contact with the electrotype while the paper is in a suitably moist and plastic condition, to receive the imprint of the electrotype and to take on the clear sharp details of the electrotype, without substantial displacement or tearing of the fibers and without substantial thinning ofvthe paper at the points of contact with the electrotype, other than such thinning as may be incident to a direct and forcible compression of the fibers along the points and lines of contact with the plate.

The rigid and unyielding electrotype or stereotype plate is applied to the paper while in motion, and running as a continuous strip through suitable apparatus and preferably is applied to the paper while in course of manufacture, the electrotypes being mounted to contact with the paper after it leaves the couch rolls of the paper making machine, as for instance a Fourdrinier and before the paper reaches the calenders. In the preferred embodiment, the impression is made after the paper has passed the first Specification of Letters Patent.

drier of the paper machine and before it has left the last drier of the machine, for at this stage, the web of paper has become thoroughly compacted and of firm structure, but is still sufiiciently damp to receive the heavy compression of the stereotype without fracture of fibers and without such tearing or readjustment of the fiber structure as would be detrimental to the paper and at the same time, the paper is sufliciently firm to retain the impression while through the succeeding drier or driers, so that the impression can be, as it were, baked in before reaching the calenders at the delivery end of the paper making machine.

The resultant product is somewhat difficult to describe, but in a general way may be said to be much more distinct and clear cut, than'ordinary water marks put in by means of dandy rolls operating on the paper pulp while on the screen of the Fourdrinier machine and before the web passes the couch rolls and likewise is much more distinct than any impression which can be made with rubber type or resilient and yielding plates or cuts and far more sharp and distinct than could be produced if the electrotype or similar plate did not come in direct contact with the paper under treat- Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed June 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,380. I

ment, as for instance if'a sheet of fabric were interposed between the plate and the web to be marked. In accordance with this invention, drawings and illustrations of great intricacy dental to the mark, give to it, the appear- The lines of ance of embossing, although there is apparent in the product no perceptible displacement of the fiber structure comparable to the displacement of embossed surfaces.

The method herein claimed can be carried out with advantage by the apparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawings,

wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of the driers of a paper. making machine equippedwith a double set of marking rolls.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine showing the other end of the drier drums. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the machine, illustrating the marking rolls and the gear mechanism through which those rolls may be driven.

Fig, t is a detail, partly in section, illusi web at the couch rolls and at the press rolls and the means for drying that web as it comes continuously from the press rolls and the means for ultimately calendering the paper and delivering it in term or" continuous strip at the tail or delivery end of the machine.

ltig. 1 shows three of the drier drums of such a machine, these being numbered respectively 10, 11, and 12 and arranged for continuous rotation uniform speed through a train of gears 13, driven in usual manner. These drying cylinders may be heated in accordance with ordinary practice, the paper web carried along by a suitable continuous felt A: is passed substantially around the drier drums and in direct contact therewith, during its travel. through the machine, so that the heated drums may expel the moisture and strengthen and harden the paper web. ln this respect the machine follows standard practice.

Suitably mounted with respect to the moving paper web and preferably positioned above the drier drums, are the rolls utilized for impressing the rigid electrotype or stereotype plate into the paper while that paper is rapidly moving through the machine. Preferably the marking devices are arranged in duplicate or in tandem, so that after completing a job oi -paper carrying, one mark, the apparatus can be shifted to put another mark on the paper without interrupting the passage of paper through the machine or stopping the normal operation of the machine as a paper maker. 1t is troublesome and expensive to interrupt the working of a paper machine and this duplication or tandem arrangement obviates the necessity, when changes in the mark are to be made, Assuming that drums 10, 11 and 12 represent the first three drums of the drier, one marking device may be positioned between drums l0 and ll and the other may be positioned between 11 and 12 as illustrat d drawings,

blocks 17, is a rigid metal roller or cylinder 21 having a hard smooth surface over which the web or" paper is passed, it being understooc that the felt 14; of the drier drums does not come up with the paper between the paper marking rolls,

Mounted to rotate above drum 21 is a roller or cylinder 22 carrying the electrotypes or stereotypes 23 whereby the marking is to be effected when the paper is being ted-between these rollers. The cylinder 22 must be rigid. for there is a very substantial strain on it while the machine is in action, the pressure between the electrotypes and lower roll being intense and the structure being as a whole relatively unyielding to the end that the sharp outlines of the electrotype may be forced against the damp paper fibers with intense localized pressure.

The electrotypes may be made up by usual methods and each is are shaped to lit the surface of the supporting roll or eylinder and is detachably secured thereto as by means of belts or screws and preferably with a slightly yielding layer, such for instance as a sheet of paper between the plate and the "face of the roll to which it is attached.

Mounted at each end oi the roll 22 is a flange or ring 24 slightly larger in diameter than the body of cylinder 22 and s0 proportioned with respect to the electrotypes 23, that when paper is fed between the rolls,

these electrotypes will seat themselves on the paper with all the firmness necessary to produce the details of an intricate mark, but when the eleetrotype is swung around out of contact with the paper, there will be little or no movement or whipping of the shaft and roller by which those electretypes are moved. The rings 2% keep rollers 21 and 22 from coming too closely together and insure smooth and uniform action of the electrotypes on the moving web of paper. 'lhe ends of roller 22 are seated in bearings 25, slidingly mounted in the slotted standards 15 and 16 and one end of this roller shaft is provided with an annular slot 26 which receives the hook 27 carried by a threaded post 28 provided with a hand wheel 29 and a lock nut 30, so supported in a bracket 31 hat when hand wheel 29 is rotated, the 'oller 22 can be shifted longitudinally, as

indicated in dotted lines and its electrotypes can be moved over to a different marklng position. The particular advantage of this lies in the tendency of the paper web to shift somewhat with respect to roller 21 and so to receive the marks at presses not properly centered with respect to the sheets into which the web of paperis ultimately to be cut. The book and end wheel will shift the electrotypes far enough to compensate for any shifting of the paper web and will so permit accurate alinement of the electrotypes with respect to the web. A vertical adjustment of roll 22 is made possible by means of threaded standards 33, one for each bearing block, said standards passing freely through the top cross bar 32 of the supports and each having its upper forked end 34 in operative engagement with a lever 35 carrying an adjustable weight. The position of the weight will govern the pressure with which the electrotypes press on the paper web, as it passes through both rolls 21 and 22. As a matter of convenience in adjusting the machine, there is provided a hand wheel 36 threaded on each of the standards 33 and this hand wheel when turned down along the standard, will lift the bearing blocks 25 and so elevate roll 22 and its elec trotypes 23 out of engagement with the 'paper web. Yoke 27 is slotted deep enough to permit a very considerable vertical adjustment of roll 22 without disengagement from the yoke.

When the marking device is to be taken apart, as for instance to adjust one of the electrotypes or to substitute other electrotypes, the top members 32 are unbolted and taken OE and the top roll 22 can then be lifted out and replaced with another roll bearing other and difierent electrotypes. However, while this transfer is being made, the paper machine need not be stopped for the other roll of the pair can be lowered into active position and can be put into action the instant its companion bar. is thrown out of action, thus keeping up a continuous marking of the paper and giving the machine as a whole, great flexibility in action and efliciency of operation.

The driving means for the paper marking rolls may comprise a pair of gears 37 and 38 one for each roll and meshing together.

The shaft of the lower roll 21 may be extended to form a support for a clutch member, slidingly mounted thereon, but constrained by a spline 40 to move therewith. This clutch may engage with the hub of a gear 41 mounted on that shaft, but free to turn with respect thereto, except when the clutch establishes a driving connection between the gear and the shaft. Meshing with gear 41 is a little intermediate gear 42 mounted on a boss projecting from one of the upright standards, this gear meshing with and being driven by a large gear 43 preferably secured to a stub-shaft44 whereon one of the drum rotating gears 13 is mounted. The sliding clutch 39 may be shifted into and out of driving engagement by means of a bifurcated lever 45 conveniently positioned at the sideof the machine and within easy reach 9f the operator.

With the marking rolls connected up as above described, the operator may throw each pair of rolls into'or out of gear by suitably shifting its clutch lever 45 and similarly may raise or lower each top roll to bring it mto or out of active relation with the paper and these results may be effected very quickly while the paper making machine is in action and. without stopping the flow of paper over the lower rolls of the device. The pressure to which the paper vis subjected when the eleotrotypes swing across it, may be governed by shifting the weights along the lever arms at the top of the device and the rings 24 at each end of the upper roller maintain the proper position of the roll relative to the surface of the paper when the electrotypes go into and out of contact with the paper.

In marking paper according to the method here disclosed, the paper web as it comes from the couch rolls of the paper making machine, preferably goes through one or more press rolls and before. being marked, and with advantage, can be passed around one of the dryin cylinders before reaching the marking r0 ls, but the paper must be marked before it is thoroughly dry, in order that its structure may not be impaired by extreme pressure, to which the fibers are subjected whenthe electrotypes or other plates are brought into marking engagement ith themoving web of paper. Preferably he marking rolls are positioned immediately forward and rearward of the second drier drum and in stringing up the machine that second drum is skipped and the paper web goes to the marking rolls after it has passed the first drier drum, though if desired, the machine can be strung up so that the paper will pass the first two drier drums and then return through both pairs of marking rolls and then around the third drying drum and on in normal wa it the couch rolls a large part of the moisture is squeezed from the soft sludgy pulp collected on the moving wire screen at the front end of the paper making machine and more moisture is taken out at the press rolls so that by the time the paper web reaches the first drier drum, it is firm and comparatively strong, but still damp and plastic and after passing that drum it is still plastic enough to take an impression from the marking device .here disclosed, without tearing or breaking the fibers or displacing them in a sheet wherein at this stage they are tightly matted together and without any other perceptible action than a compression ofthe fibers into a denser structure, immediately under the raised portions or lines or" the electrotype. At this particular stage the paper is in such condition as regards moisture and density oi fiber and resistance of fiber to displacement, that the compressing produced by the marl:- ing plates produces an effect resembling shades and shadows and this brings into striking contrast the raised and sunken portions of the electrotype and then by passing the sheet almost instantly around other drying drums, the paper will set or balre to such an extent as to retain permanently the mark impressed upon it. To a large extent, the beauty or" the mark and its permanency may be attributed to the stage at which it is impressed upon the paper web, but in addition to this, tiere is the feature that the paper web is moving at a high rate oi: speed so that the electrotype is in contact with the web for but an instant and therefore can make use of pressures, which if prolonged, would be destructive to the fiber and of permanent injury to the paper, In addition, the paper web after receiving its imprint, goes instantly to the next drier drum and the heat of that drum and succeeding drums permanently fixes the mark beyond all danger or": destruction at the calender rolls or at subsequent stages in the manufacture.

in the drawings, the electrotypes are shown as carried by the topmost roll, but it is possible to reverse this roll with respect to its cooperating roll so that the electrotypes will be below the paper web and the smooth roll will be above.

@ther changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of warts may be made without departin from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters "Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a papermalring machine through which the paper passes as a continuous web, of a pair of rolls positioned above said machine and positively driven at a suitable speed with respect thereto, the paper web being arranged to pass continuously between said rolls, and rigid impression plates carried by 'oneoi said rolls and adapted periodically to press on the moving web of paper with heavy pressure of short duration thereby marking the web without substantially breaking or displacing the fibers thereof.

2. The combination with a paper making machine wherein the paper is formed into a continuous web, of marking rolls mounted above said machine and driven therefrom,

one of said rolls carrying electrotypes positioned to bear heavily on the paper web as it passes between said rolls to impress a marl: thereon, and means for regulating the pressure at which the impression is made on the paper webby the electrotypes, 3. in a paper machine, the combination of a pair of drier drums in contact with which a web of paper may continuously be passed, and a pair of rolls between which said paper may travel in going from one drum to the other, one of said rolls carrying rigid impression plates to mark the paper as it passes between the rolls, and means for applying a heavy and regulable pressure at said rolls,

l. in combination with the drier drums of a paper making machine, a pair of standards adjacent thereto, a pair of rolls carried by said standards the topmost of said rolls bearing impression plates, means for positively driving both of said rolls, the topmost of said rolls being vertically adjustable in said standards and weighted arms for governing the pressure said rolls aud tor re ulating the upward movement of the topmost roll.

5. A paper marking device comprising in combination, a pair of standards adapted for use above the drier drums of a paper making machine, a pair of rolls positioned in said standards, means for positively driving both of said rolls, impression plates detachably connected with the topmost roll and adapted to contact with a paper web lied from a drier drum through said rolls, and weighted means ior governing the pressure of said plates on said web.

6. In a paper marking device, the combination of a pair of standards, bearing bones supported by said standards, a pair of rollers mounted in said boxes, the topmost rolls and its boxes being adjustable in said standards, screw threaded members connected with the bones of the topmost roll whereby said roll may be adjusted vertically into and out oi working position with the lower roll and weighted arms bearing on said screw threaded members to exert a heavy and regulable pressure at said rolls, and rigid impression plates detachably secured to the topmost roll and positioned and adapted to compress the web oi paper continuously passed between said rolls thereby producing a marl: in said paper.

7. The combination with a series of drier drums with a paper making machine, of a pair of marking devices positioned above said drums and receiving a paper web after it passes the first drum and before it reaches the last drum, said device being positively driven in unison with the movement of said fiber web, each oi said devices being operable independently or the other and each said devices comprising a pair of rolls,

its

one of which carries rigid impression plates adapted by contact with the paper web to impress a mark thereon, which mark may be rendered permanent before the web reaches the last of said drier drums.

8. In a paper marking device, the combination of a pair of rolls, standards for supporting said rolls, means for adjusting the topmost roll longitudinally with respect to the lowermost roll, adjustable means for regulating the pressure at said rolls when a continuous web of paper is passed therethrough, rigid impression plates detachably secured to the topmost roll, means for positively driving said rolls, and clutch mechanism for interrupting said driving connection when desired.

9. In a paper marking device, the combination of a pair of standards, boxes adjustably mounted in said standards, a rigid roll positioned in said boxes, gearing for driving said roll, a second roll positioned above said first named roll and having bearing boxes slidingly mounted in said standards, rings carried by said topmost roll to limit the downward movement thereof, rigid paper marking plates carried by said topmost roll and positioned to press heavily on a web of paper passed continuously between said rolls, means for shifting said topmost roll as it passes between said rolls.

longitudinally, and adjustable means for regulating the pressure at which said impression plates press on the web of paper 10. The combination with the drier v vi of a paper machine of upper and lower r0 having positions adjacent and axially parallel with the drier drums and prorided with journals at their ends, the upper one of said cylinders having impression plates adapted for paper mark1ng,-standards positioned near said drier drums and having a pair of oppositely located boxesv for the journals of the lower cylinder and having a pair of journal boxes for the upper cylinder which are vertically movable, means for imparting a downward pressure against said upper boxes and means for limiting the downward movement of said uppermost cylinder.

l1. lhe combination of a pair of drier drums, of a paper machine of upper and lower rolls, a pair of cylinders having positions adjacent and axially parallel with the drier drums for the topmost of said cylinders, means for imparting a downward pressure on said boxes, means for limiting the downward movement of said topmost cylinder, and impression forming faces detachably secured to said topmost cylinder and positioned to impress the markings on the paper web as it passes through said paper machine from one drier drum to another.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

HARLAN P. SMALL, I Jomv I. Swanson. 

